Aetna

Aetna Inc. is a U.S. health insurance company covering over 15 million people with its health plans, 13 million with dental plans, and 10 million with pharmacy plans. It offers traditional health insurance as well as HMOs, PPOs, point-of-service (POS), and health savings accounts. It also has vision, behavioral health, and Medicare plans. Top competitors are Blue Cross, CIGNA, and UnitedHealth Group. In 2006, revenues were US$25.1 billion with profits of US$1.7 billion.

Slavery lawsuit
In March 2002, Aetna along with railroad company CSX Transportation were named in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in New York "seeking damages for abuses suffered by slaves and accusing the companies of profiting from slavery". Aetna used to insure slaves to their owners in the 1800s.

Political contributions
Aetna gave $233,500 to federal candidates in the 2006 election through its political action committee - 28% to Democrats, 68% to Republicans, and 4% to independent Joseph Lieberman (I-CT).

Lobbying
The company spent $1,219,469 for lobbying in the first half of 2007. $520,000 went to six lobbying firms with the remainder being spent using in-house lobbyists. Some of the lobbying firms were Ernst & Young, Jefferson Government Relations, and Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld.

Personnel
Selected members of the Board of Directors:
 * Frank M. Clark, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Commonwealth Edison
 * Roger N. Farah, Chief Operating Officer and Director Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation
 * Barbara Hackman Franklin, Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce

Contact details
151 Farmington Avenue Hartford, CT 06156 Phone: 860-273-0123 Fax: 860-273-3971 Web: http://www.aetna.com

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Health Care
 * Insurance industry